A 3C-3D seismic survey at a new field research station near Brooks, Alberta

Donald C. Lawton, Malcolm B. Bertram, Kevin L. Bertram, Kevin W. Hall, J. Helen Isaac

A high-resolution 3C3D seismic survey was undertaken in May, 2014 as a baseline seismic survey for a new field research station (FRS) being developed by CMC Research Institutes, Inc. and the University of Calgary in Newell County, Alberta. The goal of this research station is to develop and calibrate various monitoring technologies for CO₂ detection thresholds at relatively shallow depths and for assessing and monitoring cap rock integrity. The specific objectives being assessed at the FRS are sensitivity of monitoring systems for early detection of loss of conformance and in mapping temporal changes in cap rock that may lead to loss of containment. The FRS is being constructed on lands southwest of Brooks, Alberta, and the 2.5 km2 site will operate for at least 10 years. Construction has begun on an array of wells, sensing stations, and surface facilities that will be monitoring fluid injection and cap rock behaviour at depths of 300 m and 500 m below surface. Technologies being evaluated will include time-lapse surface and borehole seismic surveys, microseismic surveys, geochemical, cross well, electrical resistivity, electromagnetic, gravity, geodetic and geomechanics surveys. CREWES will have an active role in processing and undertaking research on seismic data collected at the FRS.